Lakeview High softball (13-4, 5-0) swept aside the Bonanza Antlers (4-11, 1-5) on Tuesday to strengthen their hold on 1st place in Special District 5. After scoring a total of 21 runs in their previous five games, the Honkers exploded for 24 on Tuesday to sweep the doubleheader.
Game One
#14 Lakeview: 9
#31 Bonanza: 0
Looking to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Burns on Friday, the Lady Honkers left no room for doubt in an offensive explosion.
Lakeview totaled 24 runs on 25 hits across the two games on Tuesday, and it all started in game one with another day on the job for Tyler McNeley.
“She’s one of the best pitchers in the state,” said Lakeview Head Coach Sam Tacchini, “and when we can find ways to manufacture runs around her, we’re going to win a lot of ballgames.”
For most of the season, that’s been the goal for the Lady Honkers; manufacture runs to win the close games, and on Tuesday, Tacchini started to see it click.
“We had a much better approach at the plate today,” said the Skipper, following it up by adding, “We got our bats going and bunted really well, which is a great sign for games going forward.”
On Tuesday, it was no surprise that McNeley would step into the circle and throw a gem as the junior spun her fifth shutout of the season.
The right-hander went seven innings, allowing just one hit, no walks, and racking up 19 strikeouts to lower her season ERA to 1.140.
What wasn’t as expected is that McNeley would also light up in the batter’s box.
Batting in the cleanup spot, the junior went 2-for-4, smacking a double and a 3-run bomb that cleared the extended outfield fence by a sizeable margin.
McNeley’s three RBIs led the team and gave her insurance in the circle.
Lakeview also got good production out of Annikah Tacchini, who went 2-for-4 as well and racked up an RBI of her own.
Together, the junior tandem accounted for half of the Honkers’ hits en route to a 9-0 victory.
Samantha Huffman was charged with the loss for Bonanza, allowing nine runs in six innings on eight hits. None of the runs scored on Huffman by the Honkers were earned.
Game Two
#14 Lakeview: 15
#31 Bonanza: 1
In game two, the Honkers wasted no time in keeping the offense rolling, totaling 17 hits in just four innings at the plate.
The offensive onslaught was spurred by Bridget Shullanberger, who went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and four runs scored.
However, the impressive day at the dish didn’t stop there for the Honkers.
Emily Philibert, Tyler McNeley, Eliane Hansen, and Fernanda Inzunza all picked up two hits for Lakeview, and Annikah Tacchini picked up three.
It was a complete team effort on Tuesday, as Coach Tacchini said: “Their hard work in practice is beginning to pay off.”
McNeley started the first three innings in the circle for Lakeview, allowing one run on three hits and striking out five.
The five strikeouts for McNeley bumped her season total up to 180, as the junior is averaging over ten a game.
Bailey Harrington would come on in the fourth to relieve McNeley, and her mixing of speeds kept the Antlers off of the scoreboards.
Harrington pitched a scoreless fourth and decisive fifth inning, allowing no runs and only one hit.
The Honker’s big day at the plate would be cut short after four-and-a-half innings when the run rule came into effect.
The victory for Lakeview marks their fourth straight over the Antlers, a streak that dates back to 2019.
The Lady Honkers will return to action on Friday when they travel to Rogue River (6-3, 4-1) for a doubleheader against the Chieftans.
Latest rankings reflect the OSAA rankings; MidMajorMedia.com has the Honkers ranked #3.